Prescription Weight Loss Medication Names in the UK (October 2026)

01 · The list

Prescription weight loss medication list: names, forms and how often

Brand names are the ones UK patients see on boxes and in prescriptions; the generic name is the active ingredient.

In short: three injectable families, two tablet options and orlistat. You can also compare it with our full prescription medication list and the names of weight loss medication guide.

02 · Choosing

Which prescription weight loss medicine suits whom

No single medicine suits everyone, and a prescriber decides after reviewing your BMI, medical history and current medicines. Frequency is the most obvious difference: Mounjaro and Wegovy injections are once weekly, while liraglutide is a daily injection. If you dislike the idea of daily injecting, that matters. If you dislike needles altogether, the tablet options are worth discussing, and our injectable weight loss medication list sets out the injection side in more detail.

Mechanism is the second difference. Tirzepatide activates two natural gut-hormone receptors at once, GIP and GLP-1, which distinguishes it from single-action GLP-1 medicines such as semaglutide.¹ Strength choice is the third: Mounjaro comes in six strengths, so doses can be stepped up gradually and tailored over time, with monthly reviews from the prescribing team.

Only SURMOUNT-5 supports a direct tirzepatide-versus-semaglutide comparison; results from different trials should not be set side by side as if they were head to head.¹⁵ If you want to see how the options stack up on cost, our guide to the price of prescription weight loss medication covers it.

03 · Costs

What Mounjaro costs and how to get it

Mounjaro is the medicine we supply for weight management, and the Mounjaro pen is priced per four-week pen. The standard 2.5mg starter pen costs £169.99, and your first 2.5mg pen costs £129.99 with code FIRST40. Switching to us at 15mg? Your first order is £289.99. Every later order is £25 off the standard price, applied automatically (code DOSE25). The first four pens, from 2.5mg to 10mg, cost £959.96 at standard prices, and a new customer's first order is £40 less.

Across the UK pharmacies we track, the cheapest Mounjaro pen at any dose is £143.96 and the dearest is £339.00 (checked 12 October 2026). Our own prices are live, the consultation is free, and the price shown is the price paid. All six doses are in stock, with same-day dispatch when ordered by 3pm and free next-day tracked delivery. Payment is taken when you place the order; if the prescriber decides the treatment is not suitable, the order is refunded automatically in full.

Our buying guide for weight loss medication explains the process step by step, and you can browse all weight loss treatments to see what else we offer.

04 · Mounjaro (tirzepatide)

Mounjaro (tirzepatide): what it is and how it works

Mounjaro is the brand name for tirzepatide, a once-weekly injectable prescription medicine made by Eli Lilly. In the UK it is licensed for weight management in adults and for type 2 diabetes.¹ It comes as a pre-filled multi-dose pen, called a KwikPen, in six strengths: 2.5mg, 5mg, 7.5mg, 10mg, 12.5mg and 15mg.¹

Tirzepatide is the first treatment of its kind to activate two natural gut-hormone receptors at once: GIP and GLP-1.¹ Together these help regulate appetite, slow how quickly the stomach empties, and improve the way the body responds to insulin. In practice, most people feel fuller sooner and less hungry between meals, which supports a reduced-calorie diet. This dual action is what distinguishes Mounjaro from single-action GLP-1 medicines such as semaglutide (Wegovy and Ozempic).

Because it is weekly, the routine is simple: one injection on the same day each week, using the pen's own instructions. Needles, a sharps bin and injection guidance are included with every order from us. Treatment starts at the 2.5mg strength and steps up over time under review, and the prescribing team handles dose-titration and follow-up assessments as part of our aftercare.

Once you start a pen, it is licensed for up to 30 days (not above 30°C) out of the fridge. Unopened pens are stored in the fridge until first use and keep until the printed expiry date. For anything beyond that, such as an unopened pen that has been out of the fridge, check the patient information leaflet and ask the pharmacy.¹³

Tirzepatide has a half-life of about five days. After a final dose it takes roughly 4–5 weeks to clear the system. There is no way to speed this up, and nothing needs doing while it clears.¹ That is worth knowing if you ever pause treatment or need to tell another clinician what you have been taking.

Mounjaro is a prescription-only medicine, supplied only after an online consultation reviewed by a GPhC-registered prescriber. It is used alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity. Individual results vary. Our supply comes through official LillyDirect: genuine KwikPens direct from Eli Lilly's UK distribution. See the Buy Mounjaro page for the full picture.

05 · Wegovy and semaglutide

Wegovy and semaglutide: the other weekly option

Wegovy is the brand name for semaglutide as a weight management medicine, and it sits alongside Mounjaro on almost every UK list. The injection is taken once weekly. Its pens come in five strengths: 0.25mg, 0.5mg, 1mg, 1.7mg and 2.4mg.¹⁸ Treatment steps up after at least four weeks, reaching the 2.4mg maintenance dose from week 17, and 2.4mg is the licensed maintenance dose for weight management.¹⁸

Semaglutide is a single-action GLP-1 medicine, whereas tirzepatide acts on both GIP and GLP-1 receptors.¹ Both are prescription-only and both are used alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity. Wegovy has its own published trial, STEP 1, and Mounjaro has SURMOUNT-1; each trial stands on its own, and only SURMOUNT-5 compares tirzepatide with semaglutide directly.⁹¹⁵

Semaglutide is also available as a tablet. Wegovy tablets (oral semaglutide) have their own product information, which sets out how they are taken and what to watch for.²⁰ A 25mg oral semaglutide trial in adults with overweight or obesity, OASIS 4, has been published.²² Tablet prices change, so see the current Wegovy tablet prices on the product page rather than relying on a figure in an article.

If you are weighing Wegovy against Mounjaro on cost, the first pen of Wegovy's starting dose is £99.99 as a first-order price. Check availability at the time of order. NHS access to Wegovy runs through specialist weight-management services; ask your GP.

One practical difference is the ladder. Mounjaro has six strengths, and where you settle depends on your response and tolerance, reviewed each month. Neither approach is better for everyone; the right question for a prescriber is which suits your health history, your preferences about needles and routine, and your budget.

06 · Liraglutide and others

Liraglutide, orlistat, Foundayo and other names you will see

Several other names appear on weight loss medication lists, and it is useful to know what each one is. Liraglutide, sold as Saxenda and in products such as Erly, is supplied at a concentration of 6mg per millilitre. It is a daily injection, unlike once-weekly Mounjaro and Wegovy. For anything else about liraglutide, such as results or dosing steps, your prescriber can advise.

Orlistat is another name that regularly appears in prescription weight-management lists. Figures vary, and your prescriber can advise on whether it is a sensible option for you.

Foundayo is the brand name for orforglipron, a film-coated tablet with its own UK product information.²¹ A published trial, ATTAIN-1, looked at orforglipron, described as an oral small-molecule GLP-1 receptor agonist, for obesity treatment.²³ Current prices sit on the product page.

Retatrutide and other medicines in development appear in headlines. Where a medicine is in development or not licensed in the UK, it is not something a UK pharmacy can supply for weight loss.

Then there are nicknames. Phrases like the "poor man's Ozempic" or "nature's Ozempic" are marketing labels attached to low-cost supplements such as berberine. They are not prescription medicines. Supplements of this kind are available cheaply without assessment, carry no clinical oversight, and their dosing is not standardised. Treat dramatic weight-loss claims on supplement packaging with caution, and talk to a prescriber if you want an evidence-based option.

Our weight loss medicine names guide and the list of prescription weight loss drugs go through the same names in a reference format.

07 · Who can be prescribed

Who can be prescribed a weight loss medicine

Mounjaro is licensed for weight management in adults with a BMI of 30 or above, or a BMI between 27 and 30 with at least one weight-related condition.¹ Qualifying conditions include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obstructive sleep apnoea, cardiovascular disease, prediabetes or type 2 diabetes. It must be used alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.

A prescriber assesses your BMI, medical history and current medicines before deciding whether it is suitable. That review is clinical, not a box-ticking exercise: our consultations are reviewed by a GPhC-registered prescriber, not a scoring script. If a medicine is not suitable, you are told, and an unsuitable order is refunded automatically in full.

• BMI 30 or above: meets the licensed weight criterion on its own.
• BMI 27 to under 30: needs at least one weight-related condition, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol or type 2 diabetes.
• BMI below 27: outside the licensed range for weight management.

These are the Mounjaro licence criteria. Other medicines have their own product information, and the prescriber will apply whichever applies to the medicine being considered.

There is no easy route that skips assessment. A legitimate supplier always works from a consultation and a prescription. Anyone offering to supply without a consultation or prescription is a warning sign, not a shortcut. The easiest route that is also safe is a regulated online pharmacy with a free consultation and a clinician who actually reads it.

If you have a condition that could interact with treatment, say so. The prescriber also needs to know about everything you take. Repeat orders re-check suitability each time, and there is no auto-shipping, so your treatment is reviewed rather than simply renewed.

08 · NHS or private

NHS or private: what the honest picture looks like

Mounjaro is available on the NHS, but access is being phased in over several years.⁶ NICE recommends it for adults with a BMI of at least 35 plus at least one weight-related condition.⁴ The NHS primary-care rollout began in June 2025 with the highest-need groups first, initially BMI 40+ with four or more qualifying conditions. Full rollout is expected to take years.

That phasing is why the NHS question has a two-part answer. If you are in a group the NHS is currently prioritising, ask your GP about the pathway, and the NHS information on tirzepatide is a good starting point. If you meet the licensed criteria but are not yet at the front of the queue, many people choose regulated private treatment rather than wait.

For wider NHS questions, such as which weight loss tablets are available on the NHS, ask your GP. NHS access to Wegovy runs through specialist weight-management services; ask your GP. For other medicines, ask your GP or the NHS directly rather than relying on a general list.

If you do go private, a few things matter more than price:

• The pharmacy should be on the GPhC register. Ours is registered under number 9012878, and you can check it on the GPhC public register.¹²
• A prescriber must review your answers before anything is dispensed.
• Ongoing review should be part of the service, not an upsell. Ours includes monthly clinical reviews, dose-titration and follow-up assessments.

On NHS charges: if you are prescribed something on an NHS prescription in England, the standard charge is £9.90 per item, unless you are exempt. That charge is separate from private supply and does not apply to a private prescription from an online pharmacy, where the price is shown on the product page. Our prescription weight loss medication page covers the private route in a little more depth.

09 · What the trials show

What the trials show, and what they do not

The most useful figures for Mounjaro come from SURMOUNT-1. In this trial of 2,539 adults, people taking tirzepatide alongside diet and exercise lost on average 15% of their body weight on 5mg, 19.5% on 10mg and 20.9% on 15mg over 72 weeks, compared with 3.1% with lifestyle changes alone.² These are trial averages. Individual results vary, and treatment works alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity, not instead of them. Trial averages do not predict your own result.

At 72 weeks, 85% of participants on 5mg, 89% on 10mg and 91% on 15mg had lost at least 5% of their body weight.² Half of participants on 10mg and 57% on 15mg lost at least 20% of their body weight.²

To put a percentage in context, take a worked example. For someone starting at 100 kg, 20.9% is about 21 kg, and 15% is about 15 kg. That is straight arithmetic on the trial averages, not a prediction about any one person, and it says nothing about how many weeks a given loss takes.

The SURMOUNT-1 figures were measured over 72 weeks. None of these medicines is licensed or tested as a rapid-loss product; they are treatments used over a sustained period alongside diet and activity.

Is there a single most successful medication? No licensed medicine is best for everyone; a prescriber decides what suits you. SURMOUNT-5, the first large head-to-head trial of tirzepatide against semaglutide, supports a direct comparison between those two medicines.¹⁵ Beyond that, results from different trials should not be set side by side. A prescriber can talk you through the trial that is relevant to the medicine you are considering.

Another study, SURMOUNT-4, looked at continued tirzepatide treatment for maintenance of weight reduction.¹⁴ The practical point is that these are treatments you stay on under review, not a short course. Talk to the prescribing team about what happens if you ever plan to stop.

10 · Safety and interactions

Safety, interactions and what to tell your prescriber

Because Mounjaro slows stomach emptying, it can affect how quickly some oral medicines are absorbed, particularly when you start treatment or increase the dose.¹ Tell your prescriber about everything you take. That includes warfarin or other narrow-margin medicines, insulin, and sulfonylureas, where doses may need reducing to avoid low blood sugar. No adjustment is needed for paracetamol.

Insulin and sulfonylureas are not an automatic stop sign. The point is that the dose may need adjusting, which is something your prescriber and the clinician managing your diabetes work out together. Do not change them yourself.

Contraception deserves its own line. The medicine can reduce absorption of oral contraceptives, because stomach emptying slows.⁷ The SmPC advises switching to a non-oral method, or adding a barrier method (such as condoms), for 4 weeks after starting Mounjaro and for 4 weeks after each dose increase.¹ The MHRA has published guidance on contraception with GLP-1 and GIP medicines, so discuss your method with the prescriber before you begin.

Like all medicines, Mounjaro can cause side effects, and most are digestive: the most common, affecting more than 1 in 10 people, are nausea, diarrhoea, vomiting, constipation and abdominal discomfort.¹³ If you notice a new or lasting symptom, tell your prescriber. You can also report suspected side effects through the MHRA Yellow Card scheme.¹⁹

Regulators have looked specifically at whether GLP-1 medicines are linked to low mood or suicidal thoughts: the EMA's safety committee reviewed the evidence and concluded in 2024 that it does not support a causal link, and the MHRA keeps this under continuous review.¹⁷ Any big change in weight, appetite and routine can affect how you feel, so seek help promptly if your mood drops or you have distressing thoughts during treatment. Tell the prescriber about any history of low mood before you start.

If you have thoughts of harming yourself or ending your life, get help straight away. Call 999 or go to A&E if you are in immediate danger. In England you can call NHS 111 and choose the mental health option, any time. You can also call Samaritans free on 116 123, day or night. Tell your prescriber about any change in your mood while taking Mounjaro.

Counterfeit medicines are a real hazard in this market, and the MHRA publishes counterfeit medicine alerts.⁷ Buy only from a pharmacy on the GPhC register. Be wary of anyone offering to supply without a consultation or prescription, of social-media sellers, and of prices that look too low to be real. Our Mounjaro comes via official LillyDirect supply, as genuine KwikPens, with temperature-controlled packaging. Our support team can be reached Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, on 0333 207 0413.

11 · A year of costs

Planning the cost of a year of treatment

Cost is a big part of the decision, so it helps to plan beyond the first pen. Each Mounjaro pen is one four-week supply. At standard prices, the first four pens (2.5mg, 5mg, 7.5mg and 10mg) cost £959.96. A first year (13 pens) costs £2,711.88 if you stay on 5mg after your 2.5mg starting pen, up to £3,599.88 if you step up through every dose to 15mg. All of these are at standard prices, before discounts. A new customer's first order is £40 less, and every later order is £25 less.

If you settle at a middle dose, use that dose's monthly price instead: £279.99 at 7.5mg, £290.99 at 10mg or £319.99 at 12.5mg. The weekly equivalent works out at £54.75 a week at 5mg and £82.50 a week at 15mg, before discounts.

Eli Lilly announced a UK list-price increase for Mounjaro on 14 August 2025, effective 1 September 2025. Pharmacy sell prices vary because of confidential discounts. Across the UK pharmacies we track, the smallest gap between providers for the same dose is £27 and the largest is £41 (checked 12 October 2026). Boots' Mounjaro prices run from £179.00 to £339.00. Starting pens across the pharmacies we track run from £143.96 to £179.99.

What your money includes matters as much as the headline price: a free consultation reviewed by a GPhC-registered prescriber, ongoing monthly reviews, needles and a sharps bin, and free next-day tracked delivery in cold-chain packaging. Saturday delivery is £14.99. Payment is by Visa or Mastercard, Klarna or pay-monthly options, with no subscriptions and no lock-in. There is also GLPTrackr, our free companion app for tracking your journey on iOS and Android.

Ordering works in three steps. First, complete the free online consultation, a short health questionnaire with no charge and no obligation. Second, a GPhC-registered prescriber reviews your answers. Payment is taken when you place the order; if the prescriber decides the treatment is not suitable, the order is refunded automatically in full. Third, our registered pharmacy dispenses it, with same-day dispatch when ordered by 3pm, then free next-day delivery. Dispensed prescription medicines cannot be returned except where faulty, damaged or the wrong item, and you should contact us within 3 days in that case. Refunds take 5–10 working days.

12 · Using this list wisely

Using a weight loss medication list wisely

A list is a good starting point, but it is only that.

First, separate the medicine from the brand. Tirzepatide is the ingredient; Mounjaro is the brand. Semaglutide is the ingredient; Wegovy is the brand. Liraglutide is the ingredient; Saxenda is the brand, and products such as Erly use it too. Knowing this stops confusion when a pharmacy label shows one name and a news story uses another.

Second, check the frequency. Mounjaro and Wegovy injections are once weekly; liraglutide is daily. That affects how you will live with treatment day to day.

Third, check the form. If you want an injection, you have several options. If you prefer a tablet, Wegovy tablets and Foundayo each have their own product information, and the prescriber can tell you whether they are suitable for you.

Fourth, ask about suitability. For Mounjaro, the licensed criteria are a BMI of 30 or above, or between 27 and 30 with at least one weight-related condition.¹ A prescriber looks at your medical history and current medicines, which a list cannot do.

Fifth, keep expectations realistic. SURMOUNT-1 reported average losses of 15% on 5mg, 19.5% on 10mg and 20.9% on 15mg over 72 weeks, compared with 3.1% with lifestyle changes alone, but individual results vary and trial averages do not predict your own result.²

Questions worth bringing to a consultation:

• Which medicine suits my health history and my BMI?
• Do any of my current medicines interact, such as warfarin, insulin or sulfonylureas?
• Does my contraception need to change?
• How often will my dose be reviewed?
• What happens if I want to stop?

Finally, do not treat a list as a shopping menu. Some names on lists are licensed prescription medicines, some are tablets with newer product information, and some are supplements that carry dramatic weight-loss claims without clinical oversight. A prescriber can sort one from the other in a single consultation.

13 · Serious side effects

Serious side effects: when to get help straight away

Serious side effects are uncommon but need urgent attention. Seek immediate medical help for: severe, persistent stomach pain that may spread to your back, with or without vomiting (possible pancreatitis); pain in the upper right abdomen, fever or yellowing of skin/eyes (possible gallbladder problems); or signs of a severe allergic reaction such as swelling of the face or throat and difficulty breathing. If you take insulin or a sulfonylurea alongside Mounjaro, watch for low blood sugar (shakiness, sweating, confusion) — your prescriber may need to adjust those medicines.¹